Cable markers for use in close quarters

ABSTRACT

A cable marker having a collar member with an opening and a pair of legs extending distally from the opening, guide and locking assemblies at the distal ends of the legs, and a base member with cavities for receiving the guide and locking assemblies and a face surface with indicia for identifying the cable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to cable markers and, moreparticularly, to space-efficient, easy to use and highly durable cablemarkers can that be retrofitted over already in-place cables, includingin very close quarters where necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's increasingly complex wired world it is often necessary tomark individual electrical cables, wires and other insulated anduninsulated electrical conductors (referred to below generally as“cables”) when they are installed or thereafter so that repairmen caneasily identify them to connect, replace or repair individual electricalcables. It is particularly challenging to apply markers to cables oncethey are already installed and even more challenging when markers mustbe applied to previously installed cables in very close quarters.

Simply downsizing traditional cable markers to enable them to be used intight spaces unfortunately makes it difficult to ensure the necessarycable marker durability. The new cable markers of the present inventionsolve this dilemma of small size versus compromised durability.Furthermore, many current cable markers use hinging mechanisms that makethem vulnerable to material fatigue and difficult to manipulate andapply in close quarters. The present cable markers, however, are spaceefficient, durable, inexpensive and, most importantly, they are veryeasy to manipulate and lock in place even in very close quarters.

The cable markers of the present invention may be used to identifycables connected to electrical and electronic apparatus of various typesby applying individual markers carrying readily readable color coding oralpha-numeric indicia. These cable markers are designed to be snappedonto the cables and therefore can be used with previously installedcables. The present cable markers may be used in sets of two or more ifdesired, hold tightly after application and may be easily removed, iflater necessary.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An important embodiment of this invention comprises a cable markerhaving a collar member that attaches to a base member. The collar memberhas an opening for receiving the cable to be marked and a pair ofdistally extending legs. The opening may be semicircular, rectangular ortriangular.

Guide and locking assemblies are located at the distal ends of thecollar member legs. The guide and locking assemblies each include anouter locking and guide member and an inner guide member whichfacilitate the attachment of the collar member to the base member aswell as their separation if later necessary. The outer locking and guidemembers each have a latch hook.

The base member has cavities for receiving the guide and lockingassemblies as well as a face surface with indicia that are exposed whenthe cable marker is mounted on a cable. The access ports have catchmembers with surfaces for guiding the guide and locking assemblies intothe cavities and for engaging the latch hooks of the outer locking endguide members. The inner guide members of the guide and lockingassemblies have guide bevel surfaces which help lift the guide andlocking assembly free of the base member when the collar is detachedfrom the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention that are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and advantages, may be best understood with referenceto the following description, taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in thefigures, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing three cable markers attached to acable in close juxtaposition to each other;

FIG. 2A is an elevation view of the collar member of any one of thecable markers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a guide and locking assembly of thecollar member of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of a cable member with a generallyrectangular opening;

FIG. 2D is an enlarged view of a cable member with a generallytriangular opening;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a base member of any one of the cablemarkers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a cross section and view of the base member of FIG. 3A, takenalong lines 3B-3B of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate the process of attachment of a cable marker inaccordance with the present invention to a cable beginning withapplication of the collar to the cable in FIG. 4A through attachment ofthe base to the collar member in FIG. 4D;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views corresponding respectively toFIGS. 4A and 4D (with the cable removed for clarity) illustratingdetails of the attachment of the collar member to the base; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the point of application of finger pressure to oneleg of the collar member to remove the collar member from the base toenable the cable marker to be removed from the cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, a series of three cable markers 10 are shownmounted side-by-side on a cable 12 having a diameter “d”. Preferablycable 12 will be generally circular in cross-section and between about ⅛and ½ inch in diameter. Alternatively, the cable may be square orrectangular in cross section. The cable members preferably are moldedout of a nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene resin.

Each of the cable markers comprises a “U” shaped collar member 14interlocked with a base member 16. The base members have generally flatexposed face surfaces 18 carrying indicia 20 such as an alphanumericsymbols (e.g., the numbers “9,” “1,” and “0” seen in FIG. 1) formed inthe exposed face surfaces as shown, or applied to the face surfaces byother known techniques. For example, the surface may be adapted forreceiving indicia applied by the user. In certain applications thealphanumeric indicia may be dispensed with and the cable markerscolor-coded as desired. In other embodiments the cable markers may beboth color-coded and/or marked with alphanumeric indicia.

Additionally, the base members may have protuberances 22 along a firstlateral edge 24 that mate with correspondingly-shaped cavities 26 forreceiving the protuberances of adjacent cable marker base members alongthe base member opposite lateral edge 28. For example, the protuberancesand cavities may be of a triangular shape as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Themating protuberances and cavities cooperate with the first and secondabutting lateral surfaces 30 and 32 of collar members 14 to maintain thealphanumeric indicia on face surfaces 13 close together in a readilyperceived plane with abutting cable marker lateral surfaces 30 and 32 intight juxtaposition.

A “U” shaped collar member 14 in accordance with the present inventionis illustrated in FIG. 2A. Collar member 14 thus includes distallyextending legs 15 and an opening 34 that is generally semi-circular asshown and has a diameter “D” generally corresponding to diameter d(FIG. 1) of the cable 12 onto which the cable marker is intended to beplaced. Preferably, diameter “D” should be equal to or up to about 10%less than the diameter d of the cable in order to insure that the collarremains in place on the cable while the base is positioned and attachedto the collar. Also, if desired, protuberances and/or ridges may beplaced on the inside of the collar to further minimize slippage.

When cable members do not have generally circular cross sections,opening 34 may be generally rectangular (opening 34′ of FIG. 2C),generally triangular (opening 34″ of FIG. 2D), or otherwise configuredto accommodate the cable.

A generally rectangular passthrough 36 with generally parallel oppositesidewalls 38 spaced apart a distance D′ opens into semi-circular opening34. Distance D′ preferably will be about 70% to 99% of the diameter d ofthe cable and about 72% of the cable diameter. The reduced spacingbetween opposite sidewalls 38 relative to the cable diameter opens legs15 as the cable passes through passthrough 36. The cable then movesfully into opening 34 whereupon the collar member snaps onto and tightlyengages the outer surface of the cable.

Collar member 14 also includes a pair of guide and locking assemblies 37that project from the ledges 41 at the ends of the legs of the collarmember. Each of the guide and locking assemblies includes an inner guidemember 40 and an outer locking and guide member 46 at the distal ends ofthe legs.

Inner guide members 40 each have a generally flat inner surface 42 thatis generally coplanar with sidewalls 38. Inner surface 42 turnsoutwardly at guide bevel surface 44 which continues to a preferablyrounded proximal end 45 of the inner guide member to protect the guidemember from damage when the collar is attached to the base. The angle“A” of bevel 44 preferably will be acute, more preferably will be fromabout 30 to 45 degrees and most preferably will be about 37 degreesrelative to surface 42.

The inner guide members and outer guide and locking members aregenerally parallel to each other with an undercut area 47 between themthat insures that member 46 will be able to flex inwardly when needed.Guide and locking members 46 have latch hooks 48 at their distal endswith distal outer bevel surfaces 50 on angularly upwardly directed latchhook nose portions 52. The angle “a” of beveled surfaces 50 relative tothe longitudinal axis of the guide and locking members 46 should be fromabout 120 to 140 degrees and preferably be about 130 degrees. Theproximal tips 53 of the outer guide member may be rounded as shown toprotect the tips from damage. Inner and outer guide and locking members40 and 46 which together comprise guide and locking assemblies 37provide unique functionality to cable markers 10 as described below.

A base member 16 in accordance with the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. The base member includes protuberance 22 on lateraledge 24 for mating with a corresponding cavity 26 on opposite lateraledge 28 of an adjacent base member when the cable markers are located inabutment on a cable as discussed above. The base member also includes apair of preferably rectangular access ports 54 with first and secondport sidewalls 55 and 57 for receiving guide and locking assemblies 37of the collar member. Since the collar member is symmetrical, it may beattached to the base member without attention to which locking assemblyenters which access port. However, the positioning of catch members 56adjacent the entry of the access ports just below the upper surface 62ensures that the collar and base can be locked together only in theproper orientation with the indicia-bearing face surface of the basemember directed away from the collar and therefore fully visible.

As shown in FIG. 3B, each of the access ports has an inwardly protrudingcorner catch member 56 that cooperates with corresponding latch hooks 48of the outer guide and locking members, as will be described below.Corner catch members 56 include downwardly angled top bevel surfaces 58that meet generally flat inner surfaces 60. Surfaces 60 are orientedgenerally perpendicularly to upper surface 62 of the base member andparallel to sidewalls 55 at 57. Bevel surfaces 58 should be at an anglea′ of from about 120 to 140 degrees and be about 130 degrees. Preferablyangles a and a′ will be about equal. The corner catch membersadditionally have bottom bevels 64 which preferably are at an angle lessthan a′.

The cable marker of the invention may be used as illustrated in FIGS.4A-4D and described immediately below.

Attachment to Cable

1. Collar member 14 is placed against the outer surface of cable 12 withbevels 44 (FIG. 2A) contacting the cable outer surface preferably withthe user's thumb 66 and forefinger 68 abutting the collar member asshown in FIG. 4A. The collar member is then pressed downwardly, whichcauses the cable to move across passthrough 36 while flexing the collarmember outwardly until the cable drops into semi-circular opening 34.Bevels 44 guide the sleeve over the cable upon installation and protectthe guide and locking assembly from damage. Once in place, the collarmember will resile inwardly and hold on the cable as shown in FIG. 4B.

2. Next, a base member 16 is placed under the collar member with guideand locking assemblies 37 aligned with respective access ports 54 andone or both of outer bevel surfaces 50 of latch hooks 48 abutting bevels58 of the access ports. However, the positioning of catch members 56 inthe access ports relative to the collar latch hooks ensures that thecollar and base can be locked together only in the proper orientationwith the indicia-bearing face surface of the base member directed awayfrom the collar.

The collar member and base member are then pinched together. Thistypically will cause one of the locking collar member assemblies tofirst drop into its access port and then, with the application ofcontinuing pinching force by the user, the second collar member assemblywill move into its access port as the latch hooks flex inwardly to clearand engage catch members 56, as shown in FIG. 4C. Once both collarlocking assemblies are in place in their respective access ports thecable marker will be locked onto the cable as depicted in FIG. 4D.

FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of FIG. 4C which illustrates the finalstep in the attachment of the collar member to the base member. As canbe seen in this Figure, outer bevel surface 50 of latch hook 48 at theleft in the Figure initially abuts corresponding top bevel 58 of catchmember 56. Meanwhile, the other latch hook 48 at the right in the Figurehas entered access port 54 as the latch hook is pivotally held behindbottom bevel 64. Then, as the user continues to press down upon thecollar, outer locking and guide member 46 will flex inwardly as bevelsurface 50 moves downwardly along top bevel 58 of the catch member untilthe latch hook clears the catch member and springs back coming intoposition behind the catch member as shown in FIG. 5B. The contact andsliding motion between surfaces 50 and 58 distributes the force alongthe outer locking and guide members so that the hook is not damagedduring the attachment process, while minimizing the danger of permanentdeformation of the collar member which could adversely affect thereliability of the cable marker.

Removal

If it is desired to remove a previously installed cable marker, this canbe easily done as illustrated in FIG. 6. As shown in this Figure, a userneed merely pinch one side of the collar just above upper surface 62 ofthe base member (e.g., at point “P” on the outer surface 72 of thecollar). This causes outer bevel surface 50 of latch hook 48 to slidedownwardly along top bevel surface 58 of base member catch 56 until thelatch hook clears the catch member 44. Meanwhile, guide bevel surface 44of inner guide of locking member 40 rides up along inner edge 70 ofcavity helping lift the guide and locking assembly free of the basemember. When this happens, the base member easily pivots away from thecollar so that the cable marker may be removed.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to collar both the singular andthe plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended toserve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separatevalue falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, andeach separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. All methods described herein can beperformed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and allexamples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, isintended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose alimitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. Nolanguage in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Itshould be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplaryonly, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

1. A cable marker comprising: collar member surrounding an opening andhaving a pair of distally extending legs; guide and locking assembliesat the distal ends of the legs each including an outer locking and guidemember and an inner guide member; and a base member with cavities forreceiving the guide and locking assemblies and a face surface bearing oradapted to receive indicia, where the inner guide members and the outerlocking and guide members are generally parallel to each other and havean undercut area between them that ensures that the outer locking andguide members will be able to flex inwardly.
 2. The cable marker ofclaim 1 in which the opening is generally semicircular.
 3. The cablemarker of claim 1 in which the opening is generally rectangular.
 4. Thecable marker of claim 1 in which the opening is generally triangular. 5.The cable marker of claim 1 in which the opposite lateral edges of thebase member have respective protuberances and cavities for mating withbase members of adjacent cable markers.
 6. The cable marker of claim 1including a passthrough with generally parallel opposite sidewalls incommunication with the opening.
 7. The cable marker of claim 1 in whichthe outer locking and guide members each have a latch hook, and thecavities each have catch members for engaging the latch hooks.
 8. Thecable marker of claim 7 including outer bevel surfaces on the latchhooks angled at about 120 to 140 degrees relative to the longitudinalaxis of the guide and locking members.
 9. The cable marker of claim 8 inwhich the angle is about 130 degrees.
 10. The cable marker of claim 1 inwhich each of the inner guide members has an inner surface and the innersurface turns outwardly to define a guide bevel surface having an acuteangle relative to the inner surface.
 11. The cable marker of claim 10 inwhich the angle is about 30 to 45 degrees.
 12. The cable marker of claim10 in which the angle is about 37 degrees.
 13. The cable marker of claim1 in which the indicia are alphanumeric symbols.
 14. An indicia markedcable assembly comprising: a cable; a collar member surrounding anopening and having a pair of distally extending legs with the cablepositioned within the opening; guide and locking assemblies at thedistal ends of the legs each including an outer locking and guide memberand an inner guide member; and a base member with cavities for receivingthe guide and locking assemblies and a face surface with indicia, wherethe inner wide members and the outer locking and guide members aregenerally parallel to each other and have an undercut area between themthat ensures that the outer locking and guide members will be able toflex inwardly, the guide and locking assemblies being engaged in thecavities with the face surface directed away from the collar.
 15. Theassembly of claim 14 in which the opening is chosen from the groupconsisting of: generally semicircular, generally rectangular, andgenerally triangular.
 16. The assembly of claim 14 in which the guideand locking assemblies each include an outer locking and guide memberand an inner guide member, the outer locking and guide members each havea latch hook, and the cavities each have catch members engaging thelatch hooks.
 17. The assembly of claim 14 in which the cable has acircular cross-section and the collar includes a passthrough withgenerally parallel opposite sidewalls in communication with the opening,the opposite sidewalls being spaced apart a distance about 70% to 99% ofthe diameter of the cable.
 18. The assembly of claim 14 in which boththe cable and the opening have a circular cross-section and the diameterof the opening is equal to up to about 10% less than the diameter of thecable.
 19. The assembly of claim 14 in which the indicia arealphanumeric symbols.